DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD FOR BJP AND LEFT

Press Release Summary = In stock markets curves are watched carefully to understandhow some stocks are rising while others are falling or remain static

Press Release Body = In stock markets curves are watched carefully to understand howsome stocks are rising while others are falling or remain static, same is probablytrue about political parties also if one were to produce graphs indicating rise orfall of different political parties. It is no secret that the fortunes of BhartiyaJanta Party and NDA had touched peak during elections held in 1998 and ruled Delhifor six years. The curve, however voters that India was shinning. Obviously theshine was missing for majority of people.

This decline is continuing and the biggest loss is that National Democratic Alliancehas literally been broken and many constituents are looking for alternatives beforethey go for afresh poll in 2009. This was reflected most powerfully during thepresidential poll. Groups like Trinumul congress, Telugu Desam, Lok Dal of Chauthalawho had kept BJP Government at Centre going for six years have decided to abstainthis time. The more upsetting was the decision by Shiv Sena and National Conferenceto vote for UPA or Congress nominee for the office of President Ms Pratibha Patil.

It must be difficult for BJP to understand why these parties have now decided toditch them. There is however no problem in reaching the right conclusion that BJPled by Atal Bihari Vajpayee was acceptable to allies, but party led by Mr. LK Advaniand dominated by Rastriya Swayam Sewak Sangh who have installed during his term hadtried to steer BJP towards a moderate path by presenting soft face of Hindu. Thishowever changed after BJP suffered setback in the poll and went back to its oldagenda. This was expected to help them in winning back UP, but it has not been thecase and time has come when BJP should see the writing on the wall.

But NDA is not the only combination, which is on a downward curve, the same hold\'sgood for the leftists who secured highest number of seats in Lok Sabha in Electionsheld in 2004. They are now being hit by problems like two chief ministers ruling inStates under their control moving in opposite directions. While West Bengal ChiefMinister Budhdev Bhattacharya is displacing farmers to set up industries in WestBengal, Chief Minister of Kerala is demolishing tea estate owned by TATA on the pleathat they have encroached upon the government land.

There are other dangerous signals for CPM. In West Bengal as their allies in theLeft Front and former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu are upset with the Chief Ministerand have made their unhappiness known to Central leadership. The left [parties likeCPI-M at one time known for their dedication and discipline are becoming prone to infighting and personality cult. Even extreme steps like expulsion of Chief Ministerand State party president from politbureau has not helped. Charges of corruption andin fighting have become a part of kerala politics.

Things unfortunately are no better at Center in CPI-M where leadership afterrejecting several names for the post of President finally settled on a name whichhas caused lot of discomfort for all members of alliance because of the dirt thatopposition was able to dig up about her involvement in scandals while she was activein Maharashtra politics and was running a bank. It is true that none of the chargesagainst her have been proved, but there is no doubt that these charges have left abad taste with highest office in the country becoming a subject of controversy.

If selection of candidate for the post of President was a disaster, a bad beginninghas been made in suggesting for the post of vice president. The statement by MrPrakash Karat that vice president need not be a politician because he does not haveto tackle political issues has created controversy. He conveniently forgot that VicePresident may have to share the burden of the office of President in case thevacancy arises and as such the argument put forward by Mr Karat carried noconviction.

But those who know the working of CPI-M says that his real target was the candidateswhose names were being mentioned for the post of Vice President belonging to CPI andCPI-M. after all it was CPI-M alone which had prevented Mr Jyoti Basu from becominga Prime Minister few years back. To say the least, the clear conclusion is thatCPI-M is slipping and is unable to carry conviction with intellectuals whose backingfor them has been crucial in the past.

Confusion is not limited to management of political equations it also comes outglaringly on issues relating to foreign policy. For instance left misses noopportunity to find fault with any attempt to improve relation with USA and Israel,but is totally quiet about action by China and Russia. For instance not a word hasbeen spoken about support by China to Pakistan in terms of defence stores as well asnuclear and ballistic technology. It also has kept quiet about decision by Russia tosupply engines for a fighter plane being jointly developed by China and Pakistan.Such blinkered version to say the least is not likely to carry conviction with massein general and thinking public in particular.

We as such can see many political curves on downward course but no graph is moving up.